The rock vole is one of the more rare species of vole. The rock vole is characterized by an orange colored head and yellow or saffron fur around their nose. The back of this vole is heathered brown and black and the underside is silvery white or gray. It has prominent, medium sized ears and a long tail with sparse hair. This is a medium sized vole, and males are slightly larger than the females. The breeding season is from early spring to late fall with two to three litters produced per year of 1-7 young.

They are most active in the morning and they spend a considerable amount of time in subterranean activities. They are often caught in subsurface runways among rocks. Rock voles share their subterranean habitats with red-backed mouse and are prey for bobcat, timber rattlesnakes, copperheads, and short-tailed shrew. Rocks and rock debris at the base of a cliff are an important feature of its habitat throughout its range. Also water either in the form of surface on sub-surface streams is another important component of its habitat. It inhabits sites characterized by an abundance of mosses and forbs within forested areas.